Shoe cleaner and dryer



Sept. 27, 1960 E. D. SEVENICH 2,953,805

SHOE CLEANER AND DRYER Filed April 14, 1958 United States Patent O SHOECLEANER AND DRYER Ernest D. Sevenich, 149 Walnut St., Leetonia, OhioFiled Apr. 14, 1958, Ser. No. 728,325

1 Claim. (Cl. 15-310) The present invention relates particularly to animproved appliance for cleaning and drying shoes and more particularlyto an appliance of this general character adapted for cleaning anddrying the shoes worn by the user.

There are many instances when a person is caught in rain or snow or.must walk over muddy or slush-covered ground without proper foot wearfor such conditions and as a result the shoes become throughly soakedand/ or caked with mud and dirt. In most cases a change of foot wear isnot readily available and this gives rise to a very serious healthproblem since a person wearing wet shoes for an extended period of timeis very susceptible for contracting a cold or other more serious`respiratory disease. Further, dirty or muddy shoes present an unpleasingappearance and a `definite cleaning problem, especially when the wearertries to clean the shoes without removing the same. Of course, variousshoe cleaning devices, such as mats, brushes, Scrapers or combinationsthereof, have been proposed for cleaning a persons shoes. And it hasfurther been proposed to provide appliances, such as that shown in theLindstrom patent, No. 1,658,- 489, for use in shower rooms, etc. fordrying the feet of a person after he has taken a shower. However, thereis a definite need for an appliance which is operative to bothclean anddry the shoes worn by the user.

In view of the above, it is the primary or ultimate object of theinvention to provide a new and novel appliance for cleaning and dryingthe shoes being worn by the user. By the employment of such apparatus aserious health problem is substantially mitigated and the shoes areproperly cleaned thereby improving the overall appearance of the userand eliminating the tracking of mud and dirt.

Another object of the invention is -to provide apparatus of thecharacter described which is adapted for sustained and continuous usagewithout the cleaning and drying ability thereof being impaired orreduced. In the furtherance of this object, as will be hereinafter morefully explained, the appliance comprises a step-on portion which iscovered by a rough fabric or structure of a material which does notabsorb water or become vsoggy and is adapted to withstand the abrasionof the shoes thereon during cleaning and drying.

vA further object of the invention is to provide a shoe cleaner anddryer which utilizes a plurality of streams of properly directed heatedair for quickly drying the shoes thereon. The air is heated by heatingelements and forced by blowers through suitable passageways and/ormanifolds to impinge directly on the shoes to quickly dry the same. Theheating elements and blowers are of such size and capacity so that theymay be operated in a continuous manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide an appliance of thecharacter described which embodies improved means for distributing theheated air in such a manner that the shoes are quickly dried. The rough2,953,805 Patented sept. 27, 1960 ice I fabric or structure covering thestep on portion is suitably apertured and vertically extendingpassageways or conduits are in communication therewith so that heatedair is directed against the bottoms of the shoes. Other passageways orconduits are provided to direct heated air against the uppers of theshoes and the resultant arrangement is such that the shoes are envelopedin a blanket of heated air.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a shoe cleaner anddryer wherein there are provided accurately contoured cleaning surfacesand edges to allow complete cleaning of the shoes. The contouredcleaning surfaces allow relatively inaccessible portions of the shoes,such as the insteps, to be thoroughly and quickly cleaned.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a shoe cleaner anddryer which is portable and adapted for use in any location.

Another object is the provision of an appliance of the type describedabove which is characterized by its improved construction, lowmanufacturing cost and improved features of design. The shoe dryer andcleaner presents a low and pleasing silhouette necessary for a step onappliance while yet the blowers, heating elements, etc. are amounted insuch a manner and position'v to withstand shock forces attendant anyfoot operated device.

The above, as well as other objects and advantages of the invention,will become more readily apparent upon further consideration of thefollowing specification and accompanying drawing wherein are describedand shown certain representative embodiments of the invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a. side elevation of a shoe dryer and cleaner constructed inaccordance with the teachings of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the apparatus of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary side sectional view showing specifically thepassageways or conduits in the shoe cleaner and dryer of Figure l;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the structure shown in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary side sectional view of another embodiment of ashoe cleaner and dryer constructed in accordance with the teaching ofthe present invention; and

Figure 6 is a plan sectional view of yet another embodiment of thepresent invention.

Referring now to the drawing, and initially to Figures l-4 thereof,there is shown a shoe cleaner and dryer constructed in accordance withthe teachings of the present invention which comprises a main housing 10of such a size and configuration so as to provide a large platformportion 11 and a pair of identical blower and heater housing portions 12and 13. The platform portion has a relatively large upper exposedsurface area while the blower and heater housing portions are attachedto the opposite ends of the platform portion in the manner shown. Theplatform portion provides a supporting surface upon which the user isadapted to stand in cleaning and drying his shoes While the blower andheater housing portions encase and support the heating element andblower assemblies as will be hereinafter more fully explained. The mainhousing has a relatively -low silhouette with the platform portion beingof small thickness dimension so that the user may easily step thereonwhen he wishes to clean and dry his shoes. It will be noted that theupper surfaces of the blower and heater housing portions 12 and 13 arerounded and the overall design of the housing is such to present apleasing appearance. It is suggested that the main housing be fabricatedfrom wood, metal, plastic or other like material and the design of themain housing is such that a rugged structure is provided well adapted towithstand the constant and har-d use to which the saine will besubjected.

Mounted within each of the blower and heater housing portions 12 and 13of the shoe cleaner and dryer `is a combined heating element and blowerassembly 14 fof a type well known in the arts. These heating element andblower assemblies comprise electric resistance heating elements andelectric motor driven fan or blower units for taking air from thesurrounding area and passing it over the heating elements whereby thesame is heated to the desired degree and then forcing the thus heatedlarge volume of air out of discharge nozzles 15. The construction of theheating element and blower assemblies do not, per se, form a part of thepresent inventionit being suicient to note that these assemblies performthe functions of heating large volumes of air to a proper and desireddegree and delivering the same at a relatively high velocity to thedischarge nozzles 15. Of course, the heating element and blowerassemblies will be of such size and capacity to accomplish the drying ofthe shoes of a person standing on the platform portion as will 'befurther explained and, if desired, more than one assembly may be mountedwithin each of the heater element and blower housings 12 and 13. Theassemblies should be rigidly mounted within the housing portions and thearrangement is such that these members are laterally offset fromtheplatform portion whereby the same are protected to a certain degreefor shock forces and accidental kicking, etc.

The housing portions 12 and 13 are generally hollow and the interiorsthereof form, in essence, distributors or manifolds for the large volumeof heated air discharged through the nozzles 15. Communicating with thehollow interiors of the housing portions 12 and 13 are a plurality oflongitudinally extending passageways 16 (see Figure 3) which extend thelength of the platform portion 11 and provide conduits for conductingthe heated air delivered to the interiors of the housing portions to theplatform portion 11 of the shoe cleaner and dryer. The passageways 16are spaced laterally across the platform 16 so that heated air isdelivered to each exposed surface portion thereof. As will become morefully apparent, the passageways 16 provide a means for delivering theproperly heated air to the platform portion for drying the bottoms ofthe shoes of the user standing thereon.

Mounted directly on the platform portion 11 on the opposite ends thereofadjacent the housing portions 12 and 13 are a pair of upwardly extendingcleaning pads 17 and 18 which have appreciable vertical dimension andare accurately contoured along their inner edges thereof to provideconcave cleaning or scraping edges 19. The cleaning or scraping edges 19are formed in such a manner that they are adapted to nest with the outerside edges of the shoes of the user thereby allowing the dirt and mudcollected on the shoes to be scraping therefrom. The upwardly extendingcleaning pads are preferably made from metal, wood, plastic or someother like material and are each provided with horizontally extendinglaterally spaced passageways 20 throughout their width dimension whichterminate in a plurality of spaced ports along the contoured cleaningand scraping edges 19. The ports are adapted to direct heated air in thehorizontal direction to dry the uppers of the shoes being worn by theuser. Of course, suitable vertically extending passageways 21 areprovided for interconnecting the passageways 2t) with the conduits 16and the discharge nozzles 15 of the heater and blower assemblies so thata sufcient volume of heated air is delivered to the ports along theedges of the cleaning and scraping pads.

Mounted in the center of the platform portion intermediate the endsthereof and between the cleaning pads 17 and 18 is an upwardly extendingcleaning pad 22 which, in contrast to the cleaning pads 17 and 18, hasthe edges thereof contoured in convex fashion to define the bowedcleaning edges 23. This centrally disposed cleaning pad 22 has aplurality of horizontally extending passageways 24 which are incommunication via vertical passageways 25 with the conduits 16 so thatheated air is directed outwardly from the cleaning pad 22 against theinner side edges of the shoes being worn by the user. It will beappreciated that the above described arrangement is such that heated airis directed vertically against the soles of the shoes and horizontallyagainst the sides thereof and the plurality of vertically andhorizontally directed streams of air form a blanket or envelope ofheated air that completely surrounds the shoes of the user and dries thesame in a fast and ecient manner regardless of where the user isstanding on the platform portion 11. lt will also be noted that thevarious projecting cleaning pads 17, 1S and 22 are so contoured and areof such a configuration as to provide a plurality of relatively sharpcorners 26 which are excellent for cleaning the mud and/or dirt from theinsteps of shoes and other relatively inaccessible portions of theshoes.

One of the most important features of the present invention is theprovision of a suitable cleaning surface on the platform portion 11which allows the passage of the vertical stream of air, is operative toclean the shoes and yet does not become soggy or worn upon continuedusage. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention a metal plate 27having a plurality of small apertures therein overlies the platformportion and attached to this plate by bonding, screws, or otherconvenient attachment means,

not particularly shown, is a rug-like covering 28 having a plurality ofapertures 29' therein which are aligned with the apertures in the metalplate 27. It is necessary that the rug-like covering 28 be able towithstand continuous usage without becoming soggy and I have found thata covering made from a synthetic acrylic bre and marketed under thetrademark Acrilan is ideally suited for this purpose. Of course, othermaterials having similar characteristics can be employed and it iscontemplated that the covering 28 will be easily removed from theplatform portion 11so that the same may be readily replaced when it doesbecome worn.

The apparatus of the present invention also comprises other means forinsuring proper cleaning of the users shoes. As shown in Figures l and 2of the drawing the edges of the intermediate cleaning pad 22 are linedwith a plurality of spaced outwardly extending rubber tips 30 whichserve to assist in the cleaning of the shoes. Similar rubber tips can beprovided along the edges 19 of the cleaning pads 17 and 18 if the sameare desired. It should be clearly understood that the present inventionis not limited to the specific design of the cleaning pads illustratedsince obviously other designs of pads better suited to the contours of aparticular type of shoe being cleaned may be employed and dried. As anexample, a relatively short and humped cleaning pad such as shown at 32in Figure 5 of the drawing can be incorporated or employed for cleaninghigh heeled shoes. And the various cleaning pads can also be coveredwith the material used to cover the exposed surface area of the platformportion if desired.

ln Figures 5 and 6 of the drawing there are shown certain modificationsof the shoe cleaning and drying appliance described above and in orderto avoid unnecessary repetition in the specification similar partsbetween the various embodiments are designated by the same referencenumerals. In Figure 5 the outlet nozzle 15 of the blower and heatingassembly is connected to an elongated and transversely extending thinand hollow metal manifold 34 which is suitably apertured for directingthe vertical streams of air against the shoes of the user. In thearrangement shown in Figure 6 the heated air from the nozzle 15 isconducted via conduit 35 to properly shaped manifolds 36 and 37 whichare received within the cleaning pads in the manner shown. The manifoldsare apertured throughout their lengths to provide means for directingthe horizontal streams of heated air against the users shoes. Theseembodiments illustrate that various arrangements for distributing theheated air may be employed and, in fact, if the housing is generallyhollow it may be used for this purpose by itself.

Considering now the operation of the apparatus above described, the userplaces his shoes 40 on the platform portion 11 on opposite sides of theintermediate cleaning pad 22. This may actuate a pressure switch, notshown, or a push button, also not shown, is depressed to start theblower and heater assemblies 14 so that a large volume of heat is forcedto pass through the apertures in the platform portion and the cleaningpads in vertical and horizontal streams. These streams of heated aircompletely envelop the shoes and dry the same irrespective of theposition of the shoes on the platform portion. While the shoes are beingdried the user can scrape his feet against the rough textured surface.of the covering 28, the contoured edges of the cleaning pads 17, 18 and22 and/or the rounded corners 26 to thoroughly clean the accumulated mudand dirt from the shoes. In a very short time the shoes will becompletely dried and cleaned and the user can step from the platformportion. Of course, timing means may be employed in connectionf with thestart switch means to effect a timed and automatic cycle of the cleaningand drying appliance.

It should thus be apparent that I have accomplished the Objectsinitially set forth by providing an improved shoe cleaner and dryer.Although there have been described and shown several embodiments of theinvention it should be understood that these are illustrative only sincemany changes may be made therein without departing from the teachings ofthe invention. Accordingly, reference should be had to the followingappended claims in determining the -full scope of the invention.

I claim:

A self-contained portable shoe cleaner and dryer having a low silhouettefor use in cleaning and drying the shoes `of a user stepping thereoncomprising a relatively large platform having a small verticaldimension, a housing mounted at one end of said platform, said housinghaving a greater vertical dimension than the vertical dimension of saidplatform, an air heating and blower assembly mounted within saidhousing, said platform being covered with a water and wear resistantfabric, said platform and said fabric having a plurality of alignedvertical apertures therein, a pair of cleaning pad portions mounted onand positioned adjacent the ends of said platform, an intermediatecleaning pad mounted on said platform and positioned between said pair`of cleaning pad portions, said cleaning pad portions and saidintermediate cleaning pad having appreciable vertical `dimensions anddefining vertically extending edges for use in cleaning the shoes onsaid platform, a plurality of horizontally directing ports along saidvertically extending edges, said air heating and blower assembly havinga discharge nozzle, and means interconnecting said discharge nozzle withsaid apertures and said ports whereby streams of heated air are forcedupwardly through said apertures and horizontally through said ports forenveloping and drying the shoes `on said platform.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,658,489 Lindstrom Feb. 7, 1928 1,939,846 Fenton Dec. 19, 19332,423,391 Kozlolf July 1, 1947 2,599,049 Dollinger lune 3, 19522,602,724 Batchelor July 8, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 319,167 SwitzerlandMar. 30, 1957

